Need treatment for an ACL injury? A physical therapist can help!

Treatments for an ACL Injury

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments in your knee that help your knee function and keep your two major leg bones connected. The ACL is located in the middle of your knee and is responsible for keeping your knee from twisting in an unnatural direction. If this ligament is strained or torn, it can be painful and difficult to use your knee.

ACL injuries account for at least half of all knee injuries. They typically occur when your knee is forced to twist unnaturally. These injuries are most common with athletes, especially those who participate in contact sports. But they can also affect people who trip or fall while simply walking or running. A physical therapist can help you find effective treatment options for your ACL injury. 

Signs that you need a physical therapist’s help with ACL injury treatment

If you’ve injured your ACL, it’s important to seek treatment from a medical professional, such as a physical therapist. Doing so can help reduce the severity of the pain. Professional care can also help restore the strength and functionality of your knee. If the ligament is torn, you may need surgery to make a complete recovery.

Be aware of the signs of an ACL injury so you know when to get help. Ignoring the pain and not getting treatment can result in further pain and permanent disability. Signs of ACL injury may include:

  • Extreme pain in the knee
  • A loud popping sound when the injury occurred
  • Swelling around the knee
  • Loose, wobbly feeling of the knee
  • Inability to support the weight with the leg that has the injured knee
  • Loss of motion

What is involved in physical therapy-based ACL treatments?

If your ACL is partially torn or completely torn, you may need surgery for treatment. Sprains and some partial tears may only need noninvasive treatments, like medicine and physical therapy. If you do need to have surgery to repair your damaged ACL, you can still benefit from physical therapy. 

Here are a few of the physical therapy techniques that could be included in your therapy plan: 

  • Strengthening exercises — Your physical therapist can help keep the other muscles, ligaments and tendons around the knee and in the legs strong while your ACL recovers. This can reduce pressure on the injured area. It can also prevent the other tissues from becoming weak during recovery. One study reports that therapeutic exercises helped improve the strength of knee extensors by 38% in six weeks following ACL surgery. 

Your ACL therapy program could also include therapy methods like: 

Find effective ACL injury treatment at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy

Have you recently sprained or torn your ACL? Have you undergone surgery for your ACL injury? Our team at Excel Sports & Physical Therapy can help you get the ACL injury or post-surgery treatment you need. We offer free screenings that can confirm you have an ACL injury. Our physical therapists also excel at building personalized therapy plans designed to reduce pain and injury recovery times. 

Not able to leave home to get our help? Not a problem! Our team offers therapy services like at-home care and virtual therapy that you can use from home. 

Contact our team today for more information about how we can help with your ACL issue or to schedule your initial appointment.